Christmas came early in Council District 9 with a jolly visit from Santa Claus, gifts for good little boys and girls and tons (I repeat tons) of snow. We had a record-number of families attend this signature event held along Central Avenue this past Saturday, Dec. 15.

For me, it's a special opportunity to spend quality time with neighbors and give back to a community that has given me so much. It was especially gratifying to give away 100s of bikes, scooters and skateboards, as well as more than a 1,000 toys to children of the Ninth District. This truly is one of my favorite yearly events - not only because we bring snow, arts and crafts activities and free food for our families - because my team and I get to spread cheer, love and bring the South LA community together.

Thank you all who attended. Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and may there be peace on earth.

Sincerely,

To view pictures from this event, please click here. 

Councilman Curren Price was joined on Dec. 14 by Mayor Eric Garcetti, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and other VIPs, as they broke ground on the $32 million affordable housing Rise apartments along Figueroa.

This much-anticipated project will bring 56 permanent supportive housing units for homeless veterans and homeless individuals. To date, Councilman Price has authorized the construction of nearly 500 units of permanent supportive housing in the Ninth District alone! 

"The groundbreaking for the Rise apartments was yet another giant step in the City's effort to eliminate homelessness and ensure our most vulnerable people have a shot at living a life of dignity and respect," added Councilman Price. "RISE apartments offer hope, opportunities and new beginnings; and the fortunate individuals that will one day call RISE their home can and will prosper!"

As we approach the end of a wonderful 2018, I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to build a better and more prosperous District 9. This holiday season, I would like to pause and take a look back on what has been a memorable year for the NEW 9th! Please click on the image below to watch a short video that my Office put together. 

Sincerely, 

LA City Councilmember Curren Price introduced two housing-related motions on Dec. 12 that would address constraints to the production of new affordable housing, and advocates for fair geographic distribution of permanent supportive housing in Los Angeles.

The first motion directs City departments to study the feasibility of creating an “Affordable Housing Development Fast Track Program,”which would allow such projects to benefit from an expedited approval process. It also calls for the City to identify other viable solutions, such as easing the review process and reducing the cost of creating new affordable housing in Los Angeles.

"There are countless projects that unfortunately never get off the drawing board because of the costs and risks involved in the City review process," Price said. "We need to consider all possible avenues so that we are in a better position to meet the soaring housing demands for our most vulnerable populations.

It’s time we take a closer look at how we review the development of affordable housing and remove unnecessary roadblocks."

Also on Wednesday, Councilman Price introduced a motion that would reform the process by which Proposition HHH (Prop HHH) funds are allocated. In 2017, voters approved the Prop. HHH bond measure to build 10,000 homeless housing units with wrap-around services over the next decade.

However, most of the HHH projects now in the pipeline are concentrated in disadvantaged communities like Council District 9, which Price represents. For this reason, he is instructing City departments to take into account market values and economic conditions.

The motion by Price asks the City to consider restructuring the subsidies provided to developers building permanent supportive housing in higher cost, more affluent areas in LA.

"We must address the realities that make it difficult for projects in higher resource areas to come to fruition,” Price said. “Each District in our City bears the responsibility to fix the homeless crisis and the weight must be distributed equally.

Doing so would allow for more equal distribution of homeless housing projects throughout the City so that neighbors like those within the 9^th Council District don't experience an over concentration and can continue to enjoy economic growth."

As of December 2018, Councilman Curren Price had authorized the building of nearly 500 permanent supportive housing units in his District.

Plans to expand and modernize the Los Angeles Convention Center moved one step closer to reality on Dec. 12 when the City Council voted to approve an exclusive negotiating agreement with Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).

This $1.2 billion public-private partnership will include an expansion of the J.W. Marriott Hotel with 850 rooms, an additional 190,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, as well as the largest ballroom in the City. The project will also include 55,000 square feet of meeting room space, at least 95,000 square feet of multi-purpose space, and the renovation of the famous Gilbert Lindsay Plaza.

“For far too long, the Convention Center has sat idle - trapped in the 80s and unable to realize its full potential,” said Councilman Curren Price, who represents Council District 9 where the city facility is located. “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get the Convention Center on par with Convention Centers across the United States which can support large national and international events.”

The exclusive negotiating agreement approved this past week will give the City and AEG one year to work out the final details of the project.

CD 9 TRAFFIC ALERT: Rolling Loud Los Angeles 2018, one of the largest hip-hop festivals in the world, is happening Dec. 14-15 at Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park. Please plan accordingly and note that heavy traffic + road closures are expected during both days. 

The following streets will be CLOSED to ALL traffic. Please help spread the word to anyone who might be impacted. 

1. Exposition Boulevard (Vermont to Figueroa) 
   • Friday, 12/14: 9 p.m.–1 a.m.
   • Saturday, 12/15: 8 p.m.–12 a.m.
2. South Figueroa Street (Exposition Boulevard to West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard)
   • Friday, 12/14: 11 p.m.–1 a.m.
   • Saturday, 12/15: 10 p.m.–12 a.m.
3.   Two Westbound lanes on West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (South Figueroa Street to Bill Robertson Lane)
   • Friday, 12/14: 12 a.m. to Sunday, 12/16: 6 a.m.
4. Bike Lane on Southbound South Figueroa Street (West 39th Place to West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard)

COMMUNITY PHONE LINE

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information, please reach out to event organizers using the below number during the indicated hours:

Friday, 12/14: 12 p.m.-1 a.m.

Saturday, 12/15: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

Info: (702) 820-3424

Or by email 24/7: info@rollingloud.com

After years of attempts, Los Angeles became on Nov. 28, 2018 the second-largest U.S. City to legalize sidewalk vending by approving a permit system.

Beginning Jan. 1, vendors will have to abide by a series of rules and regulations, including: ensure that they are not impeding the flow of pedestrian traffic or ADA access; be three feet from one another; maintain a clean area around their cart; have all the necessary permits, and much more. Over the next year, the City will work to implement a citywide permit program with the goal to issue permits by January 2020.

In April of 2017, the City of Los Angeles decriminalized sidewalk vending, allowing for only administrative fines to be given for any sidewalk vending violations. However, sidewalk vending remained illegal until most recently.

“This is win for the vending community and a gain for micro-entrepreneurs in pursuit of opportunity and the American Dream. It is justice for tens of thousands of immigrant and low-income Angelenos who work early mornings, late evenings and sacrifice weekends as sidewalk vendors,” said Councilman Curren Price, who introduced a motion to legalize sidewalk vending alongside Councilmember José Huizar. “After years of hearings, compromise and healthy debates, we can finally say, for the first time ever, Los Angeles will have a sensible sidewalk vending policy that is fair, enforceable and inclusive.”

The new rules includes restricted areas where vending is prohibited within 500 feet, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Universal Studios, as well as Staples Center, LA Memorial Coliseum, Dodger Stadium, and the Hollywood Bowl on event days.

To see footage of this historic day, please click here.

The rain didn’t dampen the moods or Holiday cheer of hundreds of children and local families attending the Vermont Square Winter Wonderland on Nov. 29.

The popular community event featured family-friendly activities, including 30 tons of snow, a video game truck, and FREE food. Dozens of bikes were raffled off, and attendees had the opportunity to take pictures with Santa Claus!

“I am dedicated to bringing families together and providing opportunities where our kids can laugh, play and savor their childhood safely,” said Councilman Curren Price, who hosts the event every year. “Up next, Winter Wonderland on Central Avenue! Once again, it’s going to snow in the NEW 9^th!”

For more information on the upcoming Central Avenue event, see flyers below. 

To see all the photos from this year's Vermont Square Winter Wonderland, please click here.

Check out the video with this year's footage here. 

Close to 200 people attended the first affordable housing workshop in Los Angeles hosted in Council District 9 and led by Councilman Curren Price.